Joe Heltzel, a 2002 AU graduate and admissions counselor helped arrange the event, which was hosted by Ben and Misty Coster. Heltzel got to know the Costers when he recruited their daughter, Mia. “On their first visit to campus, Ben offered to serve the institution in any way possible,” said Heltzel.

[Photo: Anderson University Admissions counselors]

The Costers were excited to open their home. “Because of all of the extremely positive interactions that our family has had with Joe and all of the admissions staff, I expressed to Joe that we were very willing to help,” said Ben.

After a location was chosen, the planning began. Dr. Brent Baker, vice president for student affairs, began inviting alumni and trustees from the area, and Audrey Weiger, assistant director of admissions, sought out a few current students as well. Justin Snoddy, a senior Bible and religion major, prepared the catering.

Heltzel and other counselors then invited admitted seniors from Indianapolis and the surrounding area. “We had 11 families show up,” said Heltzel. “That ended up being about 60 people, with the AU faculty and students there.”

The Office of Admissions considered the event a huge success. “We were extremely pleased,” said Heltzel, “The biggest worry at that point was whether or not they were going to eat any of the food we had, because they were all busy talking.”

The Coster family was also happy with the turnout and the students’ experiences. “I think more than anything else, the prospective students and their families got to experience another level of what a good, Christian-based university AU is,” said Ben. “It’s an intimate, personal university and an environment in which the professors know the students by name and take an interest in them.”

Most importantly, the prospective students had a good time, and the ultimate goal of the night was met. “We really felt that, when it ended for the prospective students, the majority of them knew that Anderson University was going to be a good fit,” said Ben. “It helped them to maybe make that last step towards deciding on AU.”